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Comparison of creation myths
Comparison of creation myths
Comparison of creation myths
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The first requirement for a story to be a myth is creation. Almost every culture has a story of how the world and humans came to be. Many creation stories are similar. There are many ancient creation myths. Some the most famous creation myths come from Egyptian, Greek, and Norse mythology. Egyptian mythology has an explanation for how the world and humans got created. “The story begins with an ocean, a watery chaos called Nun. The sun god Atum emerged from the watery chaos and created two children. Shu was the god of the air, and Tefenet was the goddess of water. Shu and Tefenet went to explore the land. They were gone so long that Atum began to worry. When they finally came back, he wept for joy. Atum’s tears became the first humans. Shu
A myth is a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events. Each civilization has its myths about the creation of the world and its human race. Most speak of “gods” who perform feats far beyond that of humankind. Most are legends passed down through oral tradition, and embellished along the way. The book of Genesis is one of the most significant books in the Bible and is sacred scripture for Jews, Samaritans, and Christians. The Babylonian epic, Enuma Elish, is one of the most important sources for understanding the Babylonian worldview. Hesiod’s Theogony is a poem describing the origins and genealogies of
Dictionary.com defines a myth as a traditional story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature. Native Americans passed down their history by word of mouth. Many Native American tribes share legends within their group to their children. Obviously, they did not have the resources we have today to explain why some things happen in the world, so the Native Americans used their only assets on explaining natural phenomena. The Navajo and Delaware tribe both have their own explinations on how the world was created, while they are both completely different myths they have some points that are similar.
What made Christianity thrive longer than Greek mythology? Is Greek mythology really dead? If both religions were around the same time period, then why didn't they both end around the same time? There are numerous ways to look at all of the questions of the two religions. Greek mythology and Christianity are similar in some ways, but also differ in multiple ways. The two religions were not only around the same time period, but also were relatively located generally close to each other on the map. The two religions are still very closely related and used in today’s society, but in different ways. Christianity is still currently a modern day religion, but Greek mythology is mainly used in literature and other
The creation myths that I have studied are similar in many ways. They also have differences that show an inherently different way of thinking about the world. All have creators-gods that make the world into what is now. There are conflicts within their world, and these conflicts change the face world. God to god or human to god maybe be involved in these conflicts. Their bloody struggles prove who is more powerful, causing change in the control of the world. Some gods are beneficial to man and others are self-serving, using man only as a tool.
The most common mythological theme across different cultures is the creation of humankind because everyone has always questioned how the earth was created and so forth. Creation myths are “usually applied to a mytho-religious story which explains the beginning of humanity, life, the earth and the universe as being the result of a deliberate act of supreme beings or being” ("Creation myths," 2007). Individuals from different cultures believe in a higher power known as God and they believe that the higher power is the creator of earth, animals and humankind, however each culture believe in different Gods but they all believe that God is the creator and that is the universal theme across different cultures.
According to Terrence W. Tilley in his book Faith “A myth is a story the sets up the word . . . . [They] are the fundamental stories that articulate the contours of the world we inhabit” (76). Myths help us understand the world in which we life in and express the values of a culture. When most Christians think of the beginning of time, they refer to the Book Of Genesis. However, creation myths arise from cultures all around the world. For example, The Norse creation myth is told from the perspective of Icelandic vikings. Both the Book of Genesis and Norse myths establish the creation of the world, but they also have numerous differing characteristics.
They had similar beliefs, but also immeasurable differences. It was composed of many meaningful gods and goddesses that all played a part in the everyday life of the average Roman and Greek person of that time.
Every ancient society and civilization has creation myths that were passed down and keep alive throughout the passing of time by word of mouth. These myths are the world’s oldest stories and are vital to these cultures because they explain their beginnings and give purpose to their existence. By analyzing and interpreting different creation myths it becomes easier to understand different cultures and their connections and relationships with heir beliefs and god(s).
Myths – as they are known to most of the world – give insight into the pasts of various countries and religions as the people saw them. They have been used to explain phenomena in nature or describe the tales of courageous and important men and women throughout history. Creation myths in particular define how the Earth itself was created, along with the universe, heavens, hell, people, and creatures that exist today. Genesis of Christian mythology, for instance, tells the story of how the single deity God spoke and formed everything from day and night to man and woman. Various African creation myths, such as with the Yoruba, explain the creation of the Earth through at least a couple gods working together and all life sprouting from a seed.
The two creation myths chosen to compare and contrast focuses on the Norse culture of Iceland Vikings and the Genesis creation of the Hebrew origin of Christian culture. Both creation myths begin with an empty void where chaos or conflict develops. The Norse myth narrates a conflict between the fiery realm of Muspell and the dark, cold realm of Niflheim within the emptiness called ginnungagap and where nothing could grow. The Genesis conflict was between God and nothing, loneliness, and the need to create something beautiful.
Within the texts of Genesis which belong to the biblical scriptures of the Hebrews, and the myths of Egyptian origin, there are a multitude of similarities and differences. When compared side by side, the most obvious factor of both texts is that a single God was the creator of all that we know today. In Genesis that creator is simply referred to as God, while in Egyptian mythology, the creator is known as Neb-er-tcher. Both creators have striking resemblances, such as the ways they went about the production of the world.
Mythology is defined as a collection of interrelated stories of a given culture. Myths are intended to explain and describe the mysteries of nature and give understanding about the world that surrounds us. Each culture has their own mythology that reflects their values and beliefs. Myths were also generated to tell the story of the first people to inhabit the earth. The Egyptian mythology elevated these people to the level of Gods and Goddesses by giving them supernatural and special powers. These myths of creation were passed from one generation to the next, either orally or by hieroglyphs painted in sacred temples, pyramids, and sanctuaries.
Just as we have learned to tell lies, fibs or even change one word in our concept, once believed or even questioned, we have become great storytellers. Most stories that are told are of mythical nature. They intend to inform, to surprise, to create or even to inspire. So, what is a myth? According to dictionary.com, myth is a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, especia...
Myths and legends have definitely made their way through history everyone knows. They represent the world around us and our ideas and stories. There are all different types of mythology around the world and a lot of things today are based on it. Almost every region in the world has some mythology to it. We pass myths and legends down through history and through all types of people for an explanation of something. Myths exactly the same as legends though. Majority of legends are based on true events that took place in the past, while myths are usually stories created to teach people about something or explain why something happens. Both myths and legends have been passed from person to person over huge time periods. Eventually around 700 BC we wrote them out rather than just telling them to others. Greek mythology is something almost everyone is familiar with; you might not know everything about all the gods and goddesses, but I am sure you have heard something about it.
Mythology in the dictionary is defined as a “collection of myths or the study of myths.” and while the mythologies originate from different places, they are alike in many aspects. They share similar themes, beliefs, and experts believe they are the same for many reasons. Greek and Indian mythology both share the same theme of the main character trying to avoid a prophecy only to succumb to their destiny.